Nosoi

The Nosoi is the most basic of the psychopomps, and it's definitely friend-shaped—assuming you aren't afraid of birds. This little bird with a plague mask is a great introductory creature to the world of souls.

As I have suggested with some of the other psychopomps, I recommend taking time to decide what happens with souls in your campaign, assuming you're running your own world. Teaming up with a nosoi who's been assigned something a bit too big for their tiny britches would be great. If you're like me, you might have an easier time roleplaying a non-human creature like this one, as human conventions don't fully apply here.

If you're going to use low-level undead, why not toss a nosoi in to add some stakes to an otherwise mundane combat? Zombies trying to swat a bird out of the air or skeletal miners working for a remote necromancer using a nosoi in a birdcage as a literal canary in a soulmine (hah, canary in a coalmine, get it?) are just two examples of how you can make your low-level encounters more interesting. I'm sure you can come up with something, I believe in you!

- TJ

Hook 1 (Max) - The Rules Are the Rules

Well, you died. Unfortunate. Looks like your companions can't bring you back. As you float through the void of non-existence, you hear a loud caw. You turn and see a black raven wearing a leather mask posted atop a branch of a withered tree.

"What's this? Another lost soul, I see? Caw." The beak reaches under its feather, as the creature pulls out a stack of papers, then starts rifling through them. "Bones, I don't think these are yours, caw. You look too, too young indeed. Caw." Another set of documents, then another. The bird-thing nuzzles its feathers in what seems to be confusion. "It appears we might have an issue, caw." What issue can an immortal bird have?

"Looks like someone misplaced your documents, caw. I can't let you through."

Hook 2 (TJ) - Gravekeeper

Gustav didn't mind being alone. He wasn't truly alone, especially after a recent burial. There were the worms digging through the fresh dirt, the beetles that came to investigate the recent commotion, the birds that came to make meals of the aforementioned, and, of course, the spirit of the recently departed. Gustav always thought that he could feel them, at least for a while. After a burial, he'd prepare an extra place setting at each meal as his own kind of reverence, whether he knew the deceased or not. After a meal, he took time to sit and enjoy the quiet: both the natural quiet and the quiet of being deaf. It never really bothered him. Those who came to bury the dead complained of the birdsong and some odd quality to it, though it didn't bother Gustav. Nothing really did. When the time came and Gustav got the sense that the deceased had passed on, the birds seemed to have the same idea and moved along themselves. When that time came, he'd be alone again. But he wasn't truly alone, not really.

Hook 3 (Nemanja) - The Thirteenth Day

A white necromancer by the name of Arangelo became a gravedigger in the small village of Thistlebrook following his retirement from his adventuring days. With him also came his gregarious nosoi, Besmrtnik. Most of the time, Besmrtnik was hard at work helping the old sage in his work—except on the thirteenth day. It was a well-known rule that the Nosoi was never to come close to the body of anyone who died on the thirteenth of any month. As Arangelo was beloved and respected in the village, people knew and respected his rule, and never questioned it.

When the old man passed away in his hundred and first year, working till the very last day, a replacement worker was sent from a nearby town's chapel. Besmtrnik stuck around, though he rarely talked to the man, completing his tasks in a dour and joyless manner. Considering himself to be above superstitions, the new gravedigger ignored the rule about the thirteenth.

Two weeks passed before the young man went missing. Now, a dread dirge can be faintly heard from the graveyard. Those daring to follow the haunting tune will find that Besmrtnik has grown into the form of a massive vulture, and his gentle and funny nature is all but gone...

Naunet

ANOTHER OUTSIDER YOU SAY? Well, I'm not necessarily one to beef with creatures literally spawned from the entropic forces of chaos, and the Naunet is perhaps a quintessential example of what a force entropy can be. The bestiary notes that this mean mugged malefactor of the Maelstrom can often be found as a scout or a rank-and-file soldier in the armies of the Proteans—though I am somewhat dubious of how exactly such an army would operate.

I would say that the contradictory nature of being a soldier—a traditionally structured existence—in addition to being the spawn of pure chaos is baked into the substantial statblock of the naunet. There are three things particularly of note related to this theme:

• Protean Anatomy - An extremely versatile passive ability that gives shifting resistances to acid, electricity, and sonic damage in addition to the more unsettling ability to grow new sensory organs in order to overcome the blinded and deafened conditions
• At will Change Shape that allows for melding into all sorts of environments, both natural and urban
• Adaptive Strike, something that is certainly not going to come up very often unless you're like me and inflict your players with lycanthropy

The intricacies of the entire set of abilities and stats are too much to get into here, though I think the relative complexity of the naunet tells us a couple things—Proteans are NOT messing around and, beyond that, their base level soldiers could be a boss level threat to a lower level party. As a level seven creature, it's got an impressive set of abilities—access to narrative options like Change Shape in addition to a solid suite of spellcasting can really make the Naunet both compelling to use as well as dangerous.

Whatever the occasion, it may be worth considering how you want to utilize Proteans and Monitors in your setting, assuming you aren't running in Golarion—these dastardly delinquents can pack a punch and rain chaos on unsuspecting players, only to jump away with a 5th-level dimensional door in order to continue harassing away as needed.

- Reece

Hook 1 (Max) - Big Fish to Fry

Ships and crews have been disappearing on the Grey Ocean without a trace. A single vessel made its way to port—a galleon by the name of Fair Wind. Its deck was the sight of a massacre no doubt, though there were no bodies left in the destruction. A single survivor hid in the cargo hold, clinging tenuously to life, their eyes burnt away. The army took them in to learn what became of the rest of the crew.

"Maidens fair stranded on a vessel dead, they were," they mutter, "hoisted them up we did, 'help them we must', we said." Empty eye sockets stare into the distance. "Weren't no maidens. Sea devils they were, I tell you. Giant sea serpents, the lot of them. They roared and bit and gnawed and spit, and their putrid breath turned men to ash and bone. Good men of the sea all dead and gone. They be heralds, they bring their words and the depths speak through their forked tounges. The sea is theirs, and theirs alone—soon our land shall be forlorn."

The official statement notes the sailor was later found dead in his cell by his own hand.

Hook 2 (Nemanja) - Unravelling Unguent

A retired ranger brings his old team back for one last job together.

A long time ago, they slighted a lowly cleric in service of the gods of Order—said cleric has since risen high in the clergy and he is not one for forgiveness. When the ranger welcomed his firstborn daughter, the cleric appeared from nowhere and put a Curse of Ticking Time on her. This meant that one day—one that will presumably come far too soon—she will pass into the realm of the dead with no warning whatsoever.

The only power that can counter the magic of Order is that of the chaos-delvers, and the party now must seek aid from one of the Chaoswyrms, the Undoers, the foot-soldiers of The Unravelling that they once fought so valiantly against. Of course, enlisting the aid of such a power is never free, but the price might not be obvious from the start...

Hook 3 (Reece) - Chaos Confluence

During the season of Storms many dangers are present along the southern coasts. While the lightning, wind, and rain are all as dangerous as they always would be during any storm, the tide of chaos that accompanies the Greatstorms is more dangerous still. Should you not have access to a Stormcaller or a device with which you can rebuff the storms, the creatures of chaos will scour you and yours from the land.

A strange economy has risen from this longstanding season of chaos—populated areas that are affected by the worst of the tides employ seasonal Chaoswardens to defend their homes. Chaoswardens are highly trained in fighting all manner of Protean nightmares in defense of mankind. The homesteaders have grown used to the assistance of other more stable areas, perhaps to their detriment. This year, when the first Greatstorm arrives much earlier than expected, the Chaoswardens are cut off from their yearly migrations to the outershores. Now, each town and village along the Shifting Coast must fend for itself...

Morrigna

Making a world from scratch can be difficult, as there's a lot to consider when making your own world. Nations, conflicts, gods, devils, planes. You mean to tell me I have to figure out what happens to souls too? Man.

Luckily, the psychopomps make that easy. Any group that could conceivably include the likes of Anubis, Charon, Hermes, and Jesus is a group that I'm interested in. The Morrigna, with its spider motifs, easily brings to mind ideas of the threads of life or fate and the passive observer that is death. I'm not sure how I feel about it drawing so heavily on spiders, given the spider's propensity to, uh, trap insects in webs and eat them at their leisure. Probably shouldn't try too hard to draw parallels to souls.

Ultimately, I think the morrigna is best used at high levels when your party has easy access to death-avoiding magics. Bring a soul back from the depths of wherever souls are kept one too many times and you'll have a social (and maybe combat) encounter with a morrigna on your hands. With its ability to change its shape into an animal, you could have it tail the party for quite some time, maybe periodically reappearing after each revival attempt.

What does happen to souls in your setting? Maybe the morrigna fits into the grand scheme of your "soul plane." Just, maybe check with your players about arachnophobia first.

- TJ

Hook 1 (Max) - What is Dead Should Stay Dead

The last battle was particularly trying and one or more of the party fell. Luckily, one of them could bring the dead back. Or, as they are about to find, unfortunately.

It begins innocently enough—they keep finding spiders and webs among their belongings. Then, they start getting a repeated message in their dreams, stating simply "What is dead should stay dead."

Exactly seven days after the resurrection, when the person behind the act is alone (they are bound to be at some point), a beautiful woman in silk robes emerges from the shadows, accompanied by a multitude of spiders, a hint of a predatory smirk across her lips. As the words from their dreams play in the victim's mind "What is dead should stay dead..." she finishes "...but for now, I'll take you instead."

Hook 2 (TJ) - Eight Eyes

Eight Eyes Always Watching
Hanging By A Thread

Eight Eyes Always Watching
Looking Where You Tread

Eight Eyes Always Watching
For You Tears Are Shed

Eight Eyes Always Watching
A Beacon For The Dead

- A dirge performed when interring a member of the Eightfold Oclijian Sect, year unknown

Hook 3 (Reece) - Binder of Heart and Soul

Perrinalsus, The Watcher With Many Eyes, was one of four remaining Soulbinders to remain on their dying world. Even as the forces of chaos gripped the planet, her charge was to remain the same as it always had—maintain the natural order of death in the last breaths of a dying world. While others of her kind were encouraged to not become attached to those they would have to guide into The River of Souls, she had grown fond of a powerful sorceress who was attempting to stem the tide of destruction there. After working together many years before against a common foe, they had become an odd pair of friends who would carry conversations late into the night about the nature of death and the universe.

Perrinalsus was secretly rooting for her friend even though she knew the forces arrayed against her and her mortal compatriots would ultimately be their doom. Or so she thought.

When the sorceress finds a way to call upon fallen souls and bind them to new powerful machine bodies called Soul Golems designed to fight against the powers of destruction arrayed against mankind, Perrinalsus is left with a choice: Does she hunt down her friend of many years and fulfill her duty, or does she shirk her responsibility—and perhaps her very nature—for the love of a mortal?

Kolyarut

I don't often indulge myself in the use of outsiders in my games, but there is a certain appeal to the Kolyarut. The first time I read the bestiary through, this brooding inevitable stood out in both theme and mechanics—not to mention the art!

Now the kolyarut's stats are pretty standard for something with martial capabilities at level 12, but it also comes with some powerful options for both roleplay and mystery. This Inevitable can find things, command them easily, and disguise itself all the while. With truespeech, the kolyarut is rife with potential roleplay options.

When considering the use of the kolyarut, assuming your players are not perpetual bargain breakers, a kolyarut on some other unknowable mission could be an interesting ally of convenience or source of information. Reframing the lore for yourself, the kolyarut of your own setting could be a harbinger of some greater tragedy or a kind of corrupted angel with a singular purpose.

What is considered a bargain worth punishing is ultimately up to you, and that can make for some interesting encounters (and plots!) in your game.

-Reece

Hook 1 (Max) - I Am The Law

A deal is sacred, even more so in the town of King's Crossing, as it lies in a place where several prominent mercantile routes meet. At the crossing, countless transactions are made daily; it is no surprise, then, that it needs someone to make sure they are upheld.

That is where The Judge comes in. Whenever a disagreement arises, he steps in to adjudicate and smites those who have tried to wrong their associates. He cannot be bribed and so far has proven to be incredibly hard to kill. Hence, at least for now, it appears he shall keep his vigil over the King's Crossing, as he has done for the last two centuries of its existence.

Hook 2 (TJ) - The Bondkeeper

Copriticani youth are taught with utmost gravity about the purpose of deals and promises. At the Copriticani coming-of-age ceremonies, those that would transition to adulthood swear by a "social bargain." This bargain-contract is made with the community at large and concerns their purpose within society, as well as their general commitment to uphold their word. The ceremony always takes place under the watchful eye of the Bondkeeper.

Should anyone break the social bargain they created, rest assured, the Bondkeeper will find out and exact retribution, regardless of how legitimate the transgression or how misguided the social bargain at its inception.

Hook 3 (Nemanja) - The Family You Choose

A group of investigators are on a deep-undercover mission to bring down the biggest mafia boss in all of Braha city. While they've seen some horrible things in their pursuit of the top dog, their hands have remained relatively clean, despite earning Carmine Hawkone's trust.

When Carmine invites them to a formal bonding dinner to accept them into the inner circle, things appear to be moving away from the bleakness of their situation. That was the case, at least until he asks them to make an oath to be forever faithful to The Family, just as a Kolyarut comes into the room...

Keketar

As the ruling caste of the Proteans, Keketars embody the virtues of chaos. These serpentine, dragon-like beasts adjudicate quarrels and disputes among their kin, not without a degree of volatility, a trait greatly respected in Protean society.

Okay, this is nice. But what do they do? Turns out, quite a lot.

To start with its passives, Protean Anatomy grants them a neat resistance to damage along with immunity to being polymorphed (which I find ironic). Spatial Riptide is a good way to give the creature some innate crowd control (highly situational, though. Stick with the benefits of Reshape Reality.) The keketar boasts considerable speed in almost all departments, which—combined with constant freedom of movement—makes it a very mobile contender. 

Its melee attacks deal ample damage, all of them having reach ranging from 10 to 15 ft. (which is important when you consider that the Keketar also has the coveted Attack of Opportunity reaction). Its Strikes also apply either grab or warpwave strike, which adds a dash of unpredictability to this creature of chaos. It also has a plethora of spells at its disposal. Its spells generally work well to change either the status of the combatants or the battlefield itself. One to take a special note of is hallucinatory terrain. This meshes with its Reshape Reality ability, making the illusion have actual substance. Lastly, its Change Shape action allows to take on the appearance of any Huge or smaller creature, allowing for Keketar to potentially pose as another being, should it find it necessary.

-Max

Hook 1 (Max) - The Guardian of Greyfjord

The desperate soul often seeks refuge in deference to a higher power. And just as often the higher power is willing and ready to exploit it.

Greyfjord had seen better days, as the crops and stock died out over the last couple seasons, nearly bringing the town to utter ruin. As it is, it remains a shadow of its former self.

Dragons are seldom seen in these parts.  These majestic reptile are associated with good fortune in their tradition, and as such the locals were overjoyed to have heard of recent sightings. The beast, quite intelligent and cunning, quickly took to its role as Greyfjord's protector and patron deity, giving advice and favors in exchange for... extravagant tributes, ranging from fair maidens to hand-made jewelry.

The fact that it is not a dragon at all seems to be of little importance to everyone involved.

Hook 2 (Nemanja) - The Voice of Change

A keketar, one of the High Priests of Chaos known as the Voice of Change, has decided that time has been moving in one direction for far too long. It has started a multi-planar rebellion in order to change that.

Both Heaven and Hell are on a desperate recruitment spree, and an experienced group of heroes find themselves working alongside their longtime rivals. Of course, should they help the keketar, the rivalry—born of a misguided arrow and a painful death—might be erased in time...

Hook 3 (TJ) - The Coming Chaos

The oligarchy of Centerpointe is meticulously organized. Every building is properly in its row, not a stone is out of place. The lives of the inhabitants are monitored just as closely. Every motion, interaction, and event is recorded. As long as it is within allowable parameters, residents are left relatively unbothered. Any deviation from the prescribed order, however, is met with swift retribution.

Those that are cast out are quickly contacted by an entity known only as The Coming Chaos. Speaking in half-rhymes and scrambled thoughts, The Coming Chaos, a large, serpentine, constantly shifting beast, has begun laying out a plan to undo the chokehold of order that the governing powers of Centerpointe have over their citizens and it is anything but predictable.

Axiomite

Did i tell you yet how much i hate alignment? Yeah **** alignment. Anyway, here's lawful neural: the race.

In post-awakening Europe, where wild magic roams free and magical realms clash, most axiomites take the likeness of greek philosophers. While the likes of Plato and Pythagoras are welcomed, and indeed, have taught the humans much about the wider world they are now part of, reports speak of an axiomite known to use uncharacteristically chaotic methods to make mortals reconsider what they consider to be truth - one that looks like Diogenes. Some peasants also swear they've seen him in a third form, other than his humanoid and crystalline personas - that of a giant, plucked chicken with the face of a man. When his lectures on the indifference of universe to life start turning violent, a group of olympic medalists is called in to try to reason, or otherwise deal with him.

J-00-k was a perfectly fine axiomite, with a normal, regular, and punctual lifestyle of such a being. An encounter with a mad gnome wizard left him completely broken, though - after the gnome cast reduce person on the axiomite during their fight, the poor thing's sense of scale become fundamentally flawed. Whenever he tries building an inevitable (which is several times per day - after all, that is his job) the constructs come either gigantic or minuscule. As arbiters the size of houses start appearing across the planes, the axiomite seeks the help of mortal summoners and diabolists.

One plane was not enough for the axiomites of Nova Alexandria. When their plane became entirely covered in buildings, all part of their mega-city, they expanded to the material plane. While they are not aggressive, they keep building with no regards to local life nor architecture, creating structures atop the already existing humanoid cities and settlements. Excursions into their home plane reveal that no other outsiders remain - only the axiomites and their inevitable constructs. When questioned about the reasoning behind such a project, they happily talk about the plan but there seems to be no central authority guiding it, which also means that localized resistance is futile - eventually, another team of axiomites just arrives and starts anew.

Arbiter

So, uh. Just wanted to point out that this is our tenth post and it appears that it will be on schedule. So, I'm taking this thing seriously. Yay me. Anyway, enough  of my sentimentality and on to the arbiter.

A lowly wizard who is also a known gambler, cheat and all-round scumbag, has recently made a series of great investments and amassed a fortune. The fact that he pulled it off by imprisoning an arbiter and torturing it into revealing bits of the cosmic plan is revealed in quite an unsubtle way, though - a minor army of arbiters are now threatening to erase the city from existence. Even if the city's protectors somehow manage to merely murder their way out of the situation, the Sages warn them that such a course of action is inevitable (pun fucking intended) to bring forth more powerful Aeons.

In the Blessed World Bandallallayah, chaos was entirely exterminated. Three milliseconds after that, all of the world's arbiters went haywire. Apparently, self-preservation is located deep within their machine code. Realizing the truth of the fact that once chaos was exterminated, they no longer had a reason to exist, they correctly deduced that it meant they would need to be destroyed. However, as they are technically still acting according to their (and the universe's) coding, the higher-order aeons cant directly deal with them. Strangers from far flung corners of the multiverse are now summoned forth to deal with this predicament.

The shimmering oracle is an arbiter that takes the ideas of duality too seriously even for an aeon. It has come into possession of an artifact that literally erases it from existence for a while. After it has been "existent" for a while, it will phase into nothingness for a while. Though those who have spoken to it claim it has some sort of internal logic deciding when and where it will disappear or reappear, it seems random from an outsider's perspective.
If one does manage to find it, it is more than willing to share cryptic tidbits of the cosmic plan, but it has been know to disappear mid-sentence on several occasions.
Of course, while its oracular prowess is highly sought out, there are also those who are willing to pay a kings ransom for the procurement of the artifact it is using, with no questions asked.